Cláudio was born in Rio de Janeiro, where he made his operatic debut as Masetto (Don Giovanni) with the Brazilian Conservatory of music, followed by Mandarino (Turandot), where he was called “a great new voice of Brazil." Upon moving to Europe (Denmark), Cláudio was recipient an award which took him to Italy. He subsequently received a grant from the Queen Margarethe and Prince Henry fund and the Opera Ebony fellowship, bringing him to his present home of New York. He has received positive reviews for a number of performances including his portrayal of Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni) and the Méphistophélès (Hoffman), where he was called a “booming bass-baritone.” Additional roles include Scarpia (Tosca), Raimondo (Lucia), Basílio (Barber), and Ibn-Hakia (Iolanta) as well as modern operas, including Einstein on the Beach, a production of Robert Wilson and Mikail Baryshnikov, and Calibano (The Tempest). Cláudio frequently performs in the USA, Europe, and Brazil. 

Cláudio’s multiple acting credits include the short film La e Ca, the award-winning Como Ser Solteiro, the role of Sagat in the YouTube-nominated web series Street Fighter: The Later Years, and as the protagonist in Tiro Certo, a film he developed. Among his accolades include being listed in Vogue Magazine’s, “The 100 Brazilians Who Made It in New York.”

Cláudio is also a professional martial artist instructor. He received his Si-Fu title from Grand Master Leung Ting, and is the founder of IWTA Wing Tsun Kuen US, representing IWTA in both the United States and Brazil. His martial arts trajectory’ began in Denmark with acclaimed Si-Fu Henning Daverne. With his move to the US Si-fu Mascarenhas continued his specialization with the American masters Mike Adams, Guerman Attanazov, and Will Parker. Claudio has also trained Russian Sistema with Vladimir Vasiliev, Muay Thai with Phill Nurse, Sambo with Steve Koepfer, and MMA with the Champion Brad Desir (Featherstone). Cláudio practices inner alchemy, healing and meditative arts. Cláudio is a certified instructor of the Healing Dao, by Mantak Chia, organization that teaches inner piece and fusion with the life-force. Among similar subjects mister Mascarenhas also has studied with Master Guolin, Master Li Jung Feng, Guru Sri Chinmoy, and Sharon Smith. Cláudio Mascarenhas is a Brazilian-born opera singer, actor, and martial artist.